Illustrated Horse Breaking

Although I have described in the foregoing pages, a variety of special appliances; still it is well to draw attention to the fact that the whole system of breaking can be carrie...

Object of horse-breaking--Causes of faults which can be remedied by breaking--Vice in the horse--Distinction between nervousness and deliberate vice--Mental qualities of the hor...

Making a horse obey the rein--Manner in which a horse should carry his head and neck, when in motion--Suitability of the horse to the bridle--How the mouth-piece should act--Tea...

The breaking enclosure--Making a rope-halter--Haltering a loose horse--Making a loose horse stand still--Taking up a fore-leg--Holding up a fore-leg--Tying up a fore-leg--Blindf...

_Mouthing gear._--The gear I use for giving a horse a good mouth--in other words, for teaching him to obey the indications of the rein and leg--consists of a bridle with a heavy...

In this chapter, we need consider only quick methods of removing a horse’s nervousness, and proving to him that he need have no fear of us, or of his other surroundings; for the...

Before this instruction is commenced, the horse ought to be got under control, and thoroughly well mouthed. We may begin to teach him to jump in an enclosure, similar to that de...

_Difficult to harness._--Place the trap in the centre of the enclosure, and drive the horse, on foot, with the long reins, all about it, and back him between the shafts, so that...

1. Origin and Character of Soils,--2. Ploughing and Preparing for Seed.--3. Manures and Composts.--4. Wheat Cultivation.--5. Barley.--6. Oats.--7. Rye.--8. Rice.--9. Maize.--10....

Having rendered the horse quiet, given him a good mouth, and taught him to jump, we may next proceed to mount him in the following safe and easy manner, which, I believe, I have...

“Begging”--Bowing--Circling steadily for Circus Work--Coming up to Call--Driving without Reins--Following--Jumping over another Horse, etc.--Kissing--Laughing--Lying down--“No”-...

The classification of vices and faults adopted in this, and the following chapters, is, necessarily, somewhat arbitrary; as their causes are more often complex, than simple. The...

_Difficult and vicious to catch._--If the animal be viciously inclined, make him quiet by the methods described in the preceding chapters. Teach him to come up to you when you c...

_Biting._--Apply the wooden gag (see page 145); tie up one fore-leg, or put on the strait-jacket; and gentle the horse all over, to shew him that he cannot bite, and that, when...

The place which I prefer to all others, for breaking a horse to harness, is an enclosure about thirty yards square, the ground of which is level, and hard enough to allow the wh...

Having made the horse as perfect as we can on foot, we should complete his education by riding him with skill and judgment. If we find that he shews signs of becoming unruly, or...

Almost any horse that is quiet for a man to ride, will carry a lady steadily the first time the attempt is made. The few special requirements to make a well-broken-in saddle hor...

adopted with horses difficult to handle. The use of the rope-twitch is singularly efficacious for making animals steady to mount and dismount. Mr. D. C. Pallin, A.V.D., informs...

Acting on the sound principle that we should apply no more coercion to the animal than is absolutely necessary, we should at first try the effect of driving the jibber, on foot,...

_“Chancing” fences._--This dangerous fault may be corrected by driving the horse with the long reins over fences (see Chapter VI.) which are too stiff to chance, but which are w...

Buck-jumping--Difficult to bridle, handle, mount, dismount, ball, or drench--Difficult to put into a railway train, ship’s horse-box, etc.--Difficult to shoe--Nervous of being t...

If we circle a horse with the long reins (see page 168), turn, jump, and rein him back, we shall be able to form a good idea of his manners, mouth, and temper, by the way in whi...